Day 5 Thursday 19/12/2024 Euston, 15 – 34◦

Oh heaven, I was woken at 8:30 by a fly walking over my face. How good is it to have a sleep in? The joy of having a day off from driving and Woody has had a cooked breakfast too, probably consisting of something that most people couldn’t stomach before noon, or ever.

I skip my second coffee and take a walk along the riverbank, past the club and into town to shoot the old courthouse building. I’m on a roll, sketching courthouses at present. Apart from the industrial area I only see 3 businesses open this morning. A coffee shop, the post office and the club which is a hive of activity. Being the season, they are gearing up for tonight’s carols. A stage, umbrellas and chairs are being placed on the lawns and a carnival atmosphere is emerging.

Yesterday I spent some time sketching the fire pit area, so I return to the shade of the BBQ area to put a bit of watercolour crayon onto the sketch. There’s a large overhead fan moving the air and keeping the place rather pleasant. I chat to a fellow camper and her adult son, and she doesn’t seem all that impressed with the place until she realises that the washing machines are free. He’s an agricultural labourer and moves around quite a bit, we spend quite some time talking about almonds, pistachios, sheep and tractors and all things that grow in good dirt.

At 5:00pm we stroll over to the club for a drink in the icy cool lounge, just to count the screens of course. There are 16 that we can see without moving. Out on the lawn Christmas is ramping up, someone is chortling carols and every kid in the district is goggle-eyed at the ones who are bouncing, or ‘rock’ climbing or riding the mechanical bull. The club has a welcoming deck overlooking the festivities and the river.

Back at camp we decamp to the camp kitchen and BBQ some pork fillets whilst chatting to a couple who have been on the road for the past 3 years.

Accom: $30.00